Best Baklava in Houston: Turkish, Lebanese, and Palestinian Bakeries

Houston has more than a dozen places to find fresh baklava — Turkish phyllo soaked in light syrup at Rice Village's Pasha, pistachio-packed Lebanese trays at Hillcroft bakeries open since the late 1970s, and a Galleria sweet shop serving the pastry until midnight. This guide covers 11 verified spots, each confirmed open as of October 2026, with the style each makes and when to arrive for the freshest tray.

Most people can't tell Turkish from Lebanese baklava by sight alone. The difference is in the syrup: Turkish recipes use plain sugar syrup with lemon, which keeps the pastry crisper; Lebanese recipes add orange blossom water or rose water, giving the finished piece a distinctly floral note. That one ingredient changes the entire character of the dessert.

The quick list

• For Lebanese pistachio baklava since 1979: Droubi's Bakery & Deli, Hillcroft
• For fresh daily orange blossom water syrup: Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine, Montrose
• For cream-filled and ice cream baklava: Mary'z Mediterranean Cuisine, Westheimer and Washington Ave
• For authentic Turkish walnut style: Pasha Turkish Restaurant, Rice Village
• For Turkish scratch-made by the owner: Nazif's Turkish Grill & Deli, Galleria/Westheimer
• For Arabic and Turkish sweets until midnight: Taj A Sweet Cafe, Galleria/Uptown
• For the widest variety (nearly 20 types): Phoenicia Specialty Foods, West Houston
• For Lebanese classics open from 7am: Sammy's Lebanese Kitchen, Hillcroft
• For the oldest Lebanese bakery brand in Houston: Abdallah's Lebanese Cafe, Katy Freeway
• For Lebanese with a Palestinian accent: Al Aseel Grill & Cafe, Richmond Ave
• For Lebanese at multiple locations: Fadi's Mediterranean Grill, Meyerland and beyond

How we chose

Every spot on this list was confirmed open via its official website or official social media as of October 2026. We focused on places that make or source baklava in-house rather than buying pre-made trays wholesale. Hours change and some kitchens bake fresh trays only on certain days, so treat every schedule below as approximate and check before you go.

Turkish style: light syrup, pistachio or walnut

Turkish baklava uses a thinner, cleaner syrup — typically sugar and lemon — that keeps the pastry crisper longer. Generous clarified butter goes between every layer of phyllo, and the classic fillings are pistachio or walnut.

Pasha Turkish Restaurant — Rice Village

2325 University Blvd, Rice Village · in business since 2004 · closed Mondays

Pasha has been the anchor for Turkish food near Rice University since 2004, making it one of Houston's longest-running dedicated Turkish restaurants. The walnut baklava — phyllo dough with walnut filling, baked and soaked in homemade syrup, finished with pistachios on top — runs $5.50 for two pieces. The kitchen also makes kunafa to order with a 15-minute lead time, worth requesting if you want to compare the two classic Turkish pastries back to back. Typically open 11am–9:30pm Sunday through Thursday, 11am–10pm Friday and Saturday; closed Mondays. More options nearby: Rice Village restaurant guide.

Nazif's Turkish Grill & Deli — Galleria/Westheimer

8821 Westheimer Rd Ste 109 · Mon–Sat 11:30am–9pm, Sun 10:30am–9pm

At Nazif's, owner Nazif Farsak makes everything from scratch — the kebabs, the dips, and the baklava ($3.95). That made-in-house operation is the meaningful difference between Nazif's and a restaurant buying pre-packaged trays from a wholesale supplier. The location sits in a strip center on Westheimer at Fondren, a short drive west of the Galleria.

Taj A Sweet Cafe — Galleria/Uptown

5640 Westheimer Rd · open daily 7am–midnight

For a baklava run after dinner, Taj A Sweet Cafe is the answer. This Arabic and Turkish sweets shop stays open until midnight every day, well past the closing times at most other spots on this list. The menu includes baklava, kunafa, and the Burma with Pistachio — a rolled pastry worth trying alongside the kunafa. More eating and drinking options in the area: best restaurants in Galleria/Uptown Houston.

Lebanese style: honey, orange blossom water, and rose water

Lebanese baklava uses a syrup scented with orange blossom water or rose water rather than plain sugar, giving the finished piece a floral quality Turkish baklava doesn't have. Pistachios are the most common filling, though walnut and mixed nut versions are common. Houston's Lebanese bakery scene is concentrated along the Hillcroft corridor in southwest Houston — two miles of bakeries, delis, and Middle Eastern markets that have been operating continuously since the 1970s.

Droubi's Bakery & Deli — Hillcroft/Southwest Houston

7333 Hillcroft St · open daily 9am–7pm · since 1979

Droubi's has been on Hillcroft since 1979, making it one of the longest-running bakeries in Houston's Lebanese community. The pistachio baklava is the item most mentioned by long-time customers. The bakery doubles as a deli and market, so you can fill a box with baklava, pick up house-made flatbread, and grab pantry staples in one stop. Trays are made in-house; morning visits give you the widest selection of whatever was baked earliest in the day.

Sammy's Lebanese Kitchen & Bakery — Hillcroft

3939 Hillcroft St · open daily 7am–6pm · halal-certified

Two miles north of Droubi's, also on Hillcroft, Sammy's opens at 7am — earlier than almost any other spot on this list. That makes it the right call if you want fresh baklava before noon. A morning piece with strong cardamom coffee is a combination that works considerably better than it sounds. Sammy's has been making Lebanese pastries with the same focus for more than 40 years; housemade ma'amoul (date- and walnut-filled cookies) are worth adding to your order.

Both Droubi's and Sammy's sit within the same two-mile stretch of Hillcroft, making them an obvious base for a longer food crawl through Houston's international districts.

Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine — Montrose

912 Westheimer Rd, Montrose · and a Garden Oaks location

Aladdin bakes two varieties of baklava fresh daily: walnut and pistachio (prices vary; check in-store). The syrup is made with honey, lemon, and orange blossom water. That orange blossom note — classic Lebanese technique — makes Aladdin's baklava taste noticeably lighter and more fragrant than heavier Turkish versions. Visit in the late morning when the day's batch is most likely fresh from the kitchen. Both Montrose and Garden Oaks locations serve a full Lebanese and Greek menu. More from the neighborhood: Montrose restaurant guide.

Mary'z Mediterranean Cuisine — Westheimer and Washington Ave

5825 Richmond Ave · 4500 Washington Ave #200 · open daily

Mary'z offers three versions you won't find everywhere: the house standard ($3.95), the Cream Baklava ($5.95 — phyllo filled with cream, fried, and topped with rosewater and pistachios), and the Mary'z Baklava ($8.95 — vanilla ice cream layered inside the pastry). The ice cream version does not travel — eat it there. Late hours make the trip practical: the Richmond Ave location stays open until midnight on weeknights; the Washington Ave outpost closes at 10pm Sunday through Thursday.

Fadi's Mediterranean Grill — Meyerland, Galleria, Memorial, Katy, Sugar Land

Multiple Houston-area locations · typically 11am–9pm daily

Fadi's has been bringing Lebanese family-style cooking to a cafeteria format across Houston for decades. Baklava is on the dessert counter at every location — flaky phyllo with chopped nuts and golden syrup (price at the counter; check in-restaurant). It is the most accessible entry on this list by sheer number of outposts, and consistent across them. Nearest guide: best restaurants in Meyerland. Full location list at fadiscuisine.com.

Abdallah's Lebanese Cafe — Katy Freeway / Heights corridor

2795 Katy Fwy · brand established 1976

The Abdallah's name has been part of Houston's Lebanese food story since 1976, making it the oldest Lebanese bakery brand on this list. The original Hillcroft location closed in early 2024, but the cafe relocated near the Katy Freeway close to the Heights and Washington Avenue corridor. Pistachio baklava, bird's nest baklava (a nest-shaped rolled variation with a pistachio center), and the signature Zatar and Cheese Bread are the draws. The Katy Freeway location is newer; confirm hours before you visit.

Palestinian style

Al Aseel Grill & Cafe — Richmond Ave/Briargrove

8619 Richmond Ave Ste 100 · Mon–Fri 10:30am–9:30pm

Al Aseel is a family-owned Palestinian restaurant, and the baklava ($4.99) reflects that tradition: layered phyllo with finely chopped nuts and a generous honey finish. The kitchen is best known for dishes uncommon in Houston — stuffed pigeon and quail appear on the menu — but baklava is available throughout the week. The Richmond Ave location puts it close to the Galleria-area Turkish spots for a natural comparison within the same afternoon.

For the widest variety: the grocery route

Phoenicia Specialty Foods — West Houston and Downtown

12141 Westheimer Rd (West) · 1001 Austin St (Downtown) · open daily

If you want to compare styles side by side on the same afternoon, Phoenicia is the answer. The specialty grocery bakes nearly 20 types of baklava in-house daily: Armenian, Bird's Nest, Chocolate, Finger, Pistachio, Turkish, Walnut, Apple Baklava, Choco-Hazelnut, and more, including sugar-free versions of several varieties. Individual pieces or full trays are available. The Westheimer Market is the larger of the two locations and the better choice for a complete survey. Phoenicia is also one of the best specialty grocery stores in Houston for Middle Eastern pantry staples — phyllo dough, orange blossom water, tahini — if you want to bake your own.

Save this: the Houston baklava route

This half-day route covers three styles with manageable driving. Bring an insulated bag if you plan to take pastries home.

1. Morning on Hillcroft — Open at Sammy's Lebanese Kitchen (3939 Hillcroft, from 7am) for early baklava and coffee. Drive two miles south to Droubi's (7333 Hillcroft, from 9am) and compare the pistachio baklava from both kitchens side by side.
2. Montrose midday — Drive east about 10 minutes to Aladdin (912 Westheimer) for the orange blossom water syrup version, freshest in late morning.
3. Rice Village afternoon — Five minutes from Aladdin, Pasha (University Blvd) opens at 11am for Turkish walnut baklava. A natural lunch stop.
4. Galleria late night — Finish at Taj A Sweet Cafe (5640 Westheimer), open until midnight, for the Burma with Pistachio and any style you missed on the earlier stops.

More Mediterranean and dessert guides

For the full picture of Lebanese, Greek, and other Mediterranean cooking across Houston, start with our best Mediterranean restaurants in Houston guide. For everything sweet — cakes, pies, pan dulce, and French pastry — see our best desserts in Houston guide. The best bakeries in Houston guide covers bread and cake alongside the pastry shops.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Turkish and Lebanese baklava?

Turkish baklava uses a plain sugar and lemon syrup, which keeps the pastry crisper. Lebanese baklava uses a syrup scented with orange blossom water or rose water, giving it a lighter, floral quality. The nut fillings are similar — pistachio and walnut are common in both traditions.

Where can I buy baklava in Houston by the tray?

Droubi's Bakery & Deli (7333 Hillcroft) and Phoenicia Specialty Foods (12141 Westheimer) both sell full trays for events and gifts. Fadi's Mediterranean Grill and Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine also offer tray orders at multiple Houston locations.

What is bird's nest baklava?

Bird's nest baklava is a rolled or nest-shaped variation of the pastry, with shredded phyllo (kadayif) wound into a nest shape and filled with pistachios. Abdallah's Lebanese Cafe and Phoenicia Specialty Foods both carry it in Houston.

Where can I find baklava in Houston late at night?

Taj A Sweet Cafe at 5640 Westheimer Rd in the Galleria area is open daily until midnight, making it the most accessible late-night option. Mary'z Mediterranean Cuisine on Richmond Ave is also open until midnight on weeknights.

Is there Persian-style baklava in Houston?

No Houston shop currently markets its baklava specifically as Persian-style. Phoenicia Specialty Foods carries the widest variety — nearly 20 types — including some with Persian-influenced ingredients, but it does not label them as Persian. This may be a gap worth checking as Houston's Iranian community along the Westheimer corridor has grown.

Which Houston neighborhood has the most baklava shops?

The Hillcroft corridor in southwest Houston has the highest concentration, with Droubi's (since 1979) and Sammy's Lebanese Kitchen within two miles of each other. The Westheimer/Galleria corridor has several more options including Nazif's, Taj A Sweet Cafe, and Phoenicia.